According to police, Johnson later admitted to shaking the child uncontrollably, along with squeezing her face and spanking her.

The discovery was made Sunday afternoon in an apartment in the 200 block of Crosswinds Drive in Arnold. Johnson is being held in Jefferson County on a $100,000 cash only bond.

Aliyah McFarlane’s mother and family have released this statement and have set up a fund to honor her daughter.

“The day Aliyah was born I knew God had given me a gift. I was blessed to be the mother of such a beautiful girl. Anyone that came in contact with her couldn’t help but to love her, in my eyes she was perfect. My family and I thought we would have her for a lifetime, but sadly she could only be with us for a short 20 months. Aliyah Nicole is truly an angel and she will forever be missed.

Aliyah’s mother was at work and had left Aliyah with her father at her apartment, as she had done before, for his regular visit. He did not live with them, and was not from Arnold. Our family has been through a lot since this happened, and we are devastated by the events that have lead to her passing.”